2527) We had a house once in my childhood that had a fenced-in yard and a gate right in front of the house. We used to put our feet in the bottom part of the gate and “swing” on it; therefore, this gate hung kind of crooked.

As I think about gates, I ask myself, what is their purpose? When closed, it can keep people or animals out, and when opened, it can allow them in. In other words, a gate can be a separator.

Jesus spoke about two gates in Matthew 7:13-14. Both are open, allowing entrance. One gate is the popular one. There’s a lot of room to navigate through it and plenty of people to laugh it up with.

The other gate is one you can only pass through one at a time, and these people are purpose-driven, humble, and not in need of making sure those walking through the other gate can see them.

The first gate is for people who choose not to accept grace leading to salvation because they are fine doing what they can to meet the mark. This gate is also for people who don’t know there is an option and another gate which is less conspicuous.

The second gate is for people who know they can’t be good enough to enter, and as they pass through their gate, they hold their heads high because grace allows them entrance and they are loved so much, despite the kind of life they live.

The first gate separates people from God, and the second one separates saved by grace people and those who are striving to save themselves. There are gates in front of all of us. Which one will you walk through?